Ethical Issues in Research

and Publications
Presented By
Dr Alok Srivastava
Introduction
Ethics are norms of conduct that distinguish between
acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Ethics are the principles and guidelines that help us to
uphold things we value.
Meaning
Research Ethics involves the application of
fundamental ethical principles to a variety of topics
involving scientific research.
Research ethics educates and monitors a scientist
conducting a research to ensure a high ethical
standards.
Importance of Research Ethics
Respect and cause no harm to the participants.
As a sign of respect for other researchers and cause no
harm to the participants.
It is a professional requirement
It is a requirement to obtain funding.
Failing to conduct research ethically result in
research/researcher being dismissed or rejected by the
research community.
Basic Principles of Research Ethics
Honesty Respect for intellectual
Objectivity property
Integrity Confidentiality
Carefulness Respect for colleagues
Openness Non discrimination
Social Responsibility
Important areas in Research Ethics
Authorship
Plagiarism
Peer Review
Research with animals
Research with human subjects
Research misconduct
Authorship
Research evolves from collaboration and assistance
between experts and colleagues
Authorship is the process of deciding about ‘on who
names a research paper belongs’.
“Authorship is reserved for persons who receives
primary credit and hold primary responsibility for a
published work”
It decides which colleagues should be listed as
authors or co- authors.
Ethical Guidelines
Authors
 Significantly contributed to
the research and writing
 Prepared full responsibility
for the content of research
article
Co Authors
 Contributed substantially to
the research
 Wrote or revised all or part of
the manuscript.
 Approved the final version of
the entire article
Plagiarism
Presenting the words , phrases, ideas or work of
another including certain facts and statistics.
It will question the integrity, ethics and trust
worthiness of the researcher.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, plagiarism
cannot be tolerated by the Scientific community.
Ethical Guidelines
Keep accurate notes when doing research
Educate yourself on university plagiarism policies
Master the procedure for citing sources
Learn to paraphrase without borrowing the language
or structure used in an original source.
Peer Review
Before a paper is published in a scientific journal, it is
subjected to a process called “peer review”
Peer review system is designed to ensure that only
high quality and reliable information is published in
scientific journals
Steps in peer review
The author of a scientific paper submit it to the editor
of a scientific journal
The editor chooses two or three research experts in the
specific topic and submit the paper to those
researchers.
Based on the recommendations of independent
reviewers and the editor’s own review, the editor will
take the decision to accept or reject the paper.
Ethical Guidelines
Reviewer should not know the author they are
reviewing
The author should not tell the names of the reviewer.
No person involved in the process can publically
disclose the information in the article
Research with animals
Animals are :
Used in testing new medicines.
As teaching tools for medical students
As experimental subjects for new surgical procedures
Ethical Guidelines
Animals can be used in research only when
 It is absolutely necessary.
There is no alternatives.
Researchers can treat animals humanly.
When confirmation has been made that research
activities are not unnecessarily duplicating previously
conducting experiments.
Such experiments are relevant to human or animal
health, will advance scientific knowledge, or will be for
the good of society.
Research with human subjects
It involves use of human subjects in research
Human subjects can be defined as a living individual
on whom a research investigator obtains data through
intervention or interaction with the individual.
ETHICAL GUIDELINES
Informed consent
Voluntarily
Respect for persons
Right to end participation in research at any time.
Right to safeguard integrity.
Benefits should higher than cost
Protection from physical, mental and emotional harm
Access to information regarding research.
Protection of privacy and well-being .
RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
It is the process of identifying and reporting unethical
or unsound research
 It is defined as fabrication, falsification or plagiarism
in proposing, performing or reviewing research or in
reporting research results.
It must be committed intentionally.
ETHICAL GUIDELINES
Inquiry
Investigation
Appropriate corrective action
Conclusion
A well known biomedical ethicist stated that “When
no one is watching, it is the character of the
investigator that determines the moral quality”.
Researcher must consider research as an integral
professional activity, and must ethically discharge his
research.
Training should be provided in case of deviations.
References
Ian Gregory 2003, Ethics in Research, MPG Books Ltd,
Great Britian.
C.R. Kothari (2004), Research Methodology Methods and
Techniques, New Age International (P) Limited,
Publishers, New Delhi.
Donna M. Mertens & Pauline E. Ginsberg(2009), The
Handbook of Social Research Ethics , SAGE Publications,
Inc .
Onken, M., Garrison, S., Dotterweich, S. (1999) Research
Ethics Among AACSB Faculty and Deans: Why Isn't There
More Whistleblowing?, Journal of Information Ethics.
Thank you